Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-20
EDITORIAL.
THE WATER OF DAKOTA
BY 7. c. DUNCAN. NJ. u.

cullar about Dakota water.
Prof. G. A. Mariner, analytical che
mist, OF Chicago, in 1882 made an an
alysis of the water of the James River
and also of one of the worst wells in
Huron. From these two analyses much
has been learned Of the early history of
Dakota and why it is so fertile. We
Will now examine the peculiarities of
these waters.
RIVER AND SURFACE WATER.
After evaporating a gallon Of James
River water, the solid matter remain
ing was found to be composed of the
following:
Silica (sanO ............ 2,025O grains.
Peroxide of iron. trace.
Chloride of magnesia.. 2.179S
Sulphate OF lime 100000. 6,69SO
Chloride of sodium...trace
Carbonate Of lime 11,5131
Carbonate OF magnesia. 2,1177 20
Total .,...........-....24 ,5S46 grains.
This the chemist pronounced ga good
water. The solid residuum is not as
large as is usually found in river water.
Some rivers have as high as fifty grains
Of solids to the gallon, while some pot
able springs have as high as 100 grains
to the gallon, composed chiefly of car
Donate and sulphate of lime, the two
chief ingredients of the James OF Da-
lOto riCar caI,p,on+ ION fbo ,po,,c +b;e,
is put down as the Dakota river. Why
not hold the name? From source to
mouth it is the Dakota.) Sand is found
in all waters and is not Objectionable
except when in large amount. Magne-
STA is an ingredient of river water and
is considered valuable addition to
potable water. There are many wells
where the water is freely used, as IN
towns throughout Dakota that have as
good water, but there are few quite
alkaline, especially new wells.
From one of the worst wells SAM
pie was taken that in 1882 yielded the
su5joining interesting result-interest-
ing, for to the scientist it tells a Won
derful story of soil wealth:
Silica (sand). ........... 5,026 grains.
Peroxide Of iron. =. trace,
Chloride Of sodium $50. 1888 1"
Sulphate Of lime ... 214,997
Carbonate or lime 500. l9,515 GO
sulphate OF nagnesia !. $4,000 $
Sulphate of soda 49, $50 g
| Total ..............72 1867 grains.
That is certainly a bitter water and
q decidedly alkaline drink. Still sick
people make long pilgrimages to drink
similer waters for their medicinal qua
lities. Some wide awake man will yet
make a fortune out Of Dakota water,
bottled for medicinal use. Some min
eral waters have as high as 1,5O0 grains
of solid constituents to the gallon. The
taste Of shallow well water is similar to
that Of the river water and this, by the
way, corresponds closely to the famous
Waukesha mineral waters.
Three years Of constant use has
changed the bitter water in these wells
to good drinkable water.
NORTH DAKOTA FARMER NOTES.
Mr.. Thomas Taylor has one Of the
finest stock farms in Dakota near Let
cher, containing FIVE hundred and thir-
ty acres on either side Of the James
river, with fine bottom lands and fer
tile uplands. He has thirty head Of
thoroughbred durhams, thirty grades
and thirty ull-blooded Leicester sheep.
The wool from the latter last May
measured, much Of it, eleven to twelve
and a half inches in length. He will
sell his grade cattle and keep only
thoroughbred stock. His barn is 30XS0
feet, with stabling for fifty head of cat
tie and storage for one hundred tons of
hay.
81 have ridden into Il Dakota valley
and pitched my tent. After my supper,
rolling up my buffalo robe, have look
ed around and seen nothing on the
1dluSCdpt, !1OClllutS OuU tV HoiA eAAtto
looked down from hill into the valley
TO see who the intruder was. When [
visited that valley the next year ] saw
long train of Pullman palace cars. In
that same trip l camped in fiat bottom
lands near the Missouri river. There
was no sign Of civilization there but
LOG hut with a mud roof. 1t was the
home Of Frenchman who had mar
ried an Indian woman. Within the
year revisited the spot and saw
town of five hundred people. 1t has
now 2G0O.
"The courage and faith OF these pio-
neers is something extraordinary. Their
spirit seems to rise above AL obstacles.
missionary address made III New
York by Bishop Hare OF South Dakota.
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.
The farmers of Dakota must make
haste slowly. Farm improvement must
change Tor